MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - St. Norbert College survived a cold-shooting second half thanks to solid defense and outlasted Cornell College 56-48 in a Midwest Conference game at the Multi-Sport Center.

The Green Knights (9-2, 6-0 MWC) were just 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from the floor to score 27 points in the second half, but held the Rams (5-6, 3-3) to just 28 second-half points to capitalize on a 29-20 halftime lead.

St. Norbert led 45-32 with 9:10 remaining after a pair of Regan Carmichael free throws. Cornell went on an 11-2 run over the next 5:42 to get to within 47-43 with 3:28 left. The Green Knights scored the next three points on a Jill Kleiman free throw and two Tasha Giese free throws for a 50-43 edge with 2:46 left.

Cornell's Taylor Dicus scored three points for the Rams, including a hoop to cut it to 50-46 with 2:19 to go. Neither team would score again until Brianna Bryne canned a jumper with 1:04 to play for a 52:46 lead. The Green Knights made 4 of 6 free throws in the final 44 seconds to seal the win.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 12-2 lead to start the game, fueled by 3-pointers from Kleiman and Carmichael. The Green Knights led by as much as 12 at 21-9 in the first half, but Cornell closed to within four at 24-20 late. A basket by Byrne and a 3-pointer by Carmichael in the final 38 seconds put the Green Knights up nine at intermission.

Byrne led St. Norbert with 16 points, while Carmichael added 13 points and Kleiman 10. The Green Knights shot 34.6 percent (18-for-52) from the floor overall, and committed just seven turnovers.

Dicus led Cornell with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Maggie Hogen added 14 points. The Rams held a 49-31 rebounding edge but shot just 32.7 percent (18-for-55) from the floor.